Symptoms
Stage 1 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may be present in the sufferer without showing any signs or symptoms. May be usually diagnosed when a physician orders someone to take a chest X-ray which is often associated with another illness. Symptoms may include: a persistent cough (smoker's cough), shortness of breath, wheezing, and recurrent bronchitis or pneumonia. At this early stage, other symptoms are not usually used in a patient.
video assisted thoracoscopy Diagnosis
Stage 1 NSCLC is localized (contained within the lungs) features not spread to the lymph nodes or other organs the actual body.
Stages
- 1 The cancer is localized within the lungs but has not spread on the lymph nodes.
- 1A (the tumor is 3 cm or less in diameter).
- 1B (the tumor is between 3-5 cm in diameter).
These stages may also be described using a system called TNM (T = tumor size, N = nodes, and M = metastasis [spread of cancer]). Example:
- 1A (T1N0M0) Meaning that the tumor is below 3 cm (T1), with no nodes (N0), and no metastasis (M0).
- 1B (T2N0M0) Immediately the tumor is when compared with 3 cm (T2), without nodes (N0), and no metastasis (M0).
Treatment
Surgery typically considered as the primary option for Stage 1 lung cancer treatment where removal for this tumor may be done via various procedures. These techniques may include: segmentectomy (removal of a limited amount of segment of the lung), lobectomy (removal of this lobe of your lung), or pneumonectomy (removal of the sum of the lung).
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) may double when either the location of the tumor is no easy task to reach using traditional surgery, or when the typical health of the patient isn't at its best and considered that the patient did not be placement tolerate a full surgical techniques. VATS is also less intrusive on the than traditional surgery.
If the cancer is consideration to be inoperable, radiation therapy may be taken to address it.
Stereotactic body radiosurgery (SBRS) is one treatment that may be regarded. This is while patient is first immobilized in a frame to stop any movement, then computer imaging techniques are did identify precisely where the cancerous cells are. These cells are then in turn destroyed obtaining the best given high dosages of radiation.
Conventional radiation therapy's aren't usually recommended with Stage 1A lung cancer, however with Stage 1B, adjuvant chemotherapy (chemotherapy used after surgery to kill off any remaining cancerous cells) may be provided.